RAFA BENITEZ responds to the burst of expectation surrounding his Liverpool team with a combination of confidence and caution.

Benitez's side defied pre-season predictions to register the club's highest points tally in 17 years, and left club statisticians re-assessing the record books on a weekly basis.

This weekend's FA Cup final provides a fitting end to a campaign of colossal progress.

However, despite standing on the brink of another major triumph, the Anfield boss has warned the challenge of turning his side from Premiership wannabes to title winners will be the toughest assignment of all.

Benitez was plotting a glorious path elsewhere the last time Liverpool finished a season with 80 points, but he believes the bitter memories of the post-2002 Houllier era will serve as an appropriate warning of how positions of strength can be squandered.

Houllier spent over #20m in the aftermath of the last World Cup, hoping El-Hadji Diouf, Bruno Cheyrou and Salif Diao would take Liverpool from second to first.

A year later, the club didn't even qualify for the Champions League and his reign never recovered.

There is understandable confidence Benitez won't make the same cataclysmic errors if he's backed with the same financial clout as his predecessor. But he accepts the weight of responsibility when considering his next moves in the transfer market.

"Every summer is important in terms of signing players, but now I know my team better and the qualities of every player, and we know what to do to keep one step ahead," said Benitez.

"This is a time when we must be careful with our decisions.

"When I talk with Rick and the chairman, they know we are closer now than we've been in a long time. They have more experience than me of what's happened at the club and they know we must be careful with new signings. We know the areas where we need to sign the right players.

"I know we can improve. That's the sensation I feel now. With the players we have, and by signing the right play-ers, we will be better. Other clubs will be looking to improve, too, and we need to be aware of what they do to make sure if they improve their squad a little, we improve even more."

Benitez's sober mood after the final Premiership win over Portsmouth was as encouraging as it's been following some of the seasons most significant triumphs.

There were no scenes of jubilation as the club recorded a points tally to sit proudly alongside many of the best.

Instead, the Spanish boss looks over the last eight months with a slight hint of regret to go with the large portions of pride, as he thinks it could have been even better.

Benitez added: "At the final whistle in Portsmouth I felt a mixture of being happy and disappointed. To achieve 82 points is a good total, but we would have liked to beat the record of clean sheets, and the goal we conceded was offside.

"But one of the most important things of the season has been seeing the team develop this winning mentality. Even when we win a game, I see the players are unhappy if we concede a goal.

"This is good for the future. Even though we've managed 82 points, we know we need to improve even more to win the league. We have the mentality to do it, I know this.

"If you analyse the whole season, we've played 61 games and been very consistent. The physical condition of the team is also very good. Our back-room staff deserve credit for this.

"The gap between ourselves and the top was nine points in the end, but that's not a very clear reflection because over the last games it's difficult to say Chelsea would have made the same selections if they'd needed the points."

When the season ends in Cardiff, no matter what the outcome, Benitez, his players and staff can conclude they've taken a huge leap in the right direction.

Next year, the Premiership trophy rather than an impressive points haul will be the target.

"I never had a points target in mind at the start of the season. We just thought of improving with every game and correcting our mistakes," he said.

"Even in our first few games we had a lot of chances. If we do the same things next year, but improve against the teams at the top, that will be the key."